PRO FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : Woodson Still Talking About Return

Rod Woodson talked again Wednesday of playing in the Super Bowl after practicing with the Pittsburgh Steelers’ defense for the first time since badly injuring a knee in September.

But while Woodson was enthused about the improvement in a right knee that required reconstructive surgery only 18 weeks ago, Coach Bill Cowher remained noncommittal at best.

Woodson said the knee is “dramatically different than last week,” when he called it 80-85% healed, but Cowher said only that the six-time Pro Bowl cornerback “looked a little better.”

“I’m going out and practicing like I’m getting ready to play,” Woodson said.

“He practiced a little bit,” Cowher said. “He’s certainly preparing.”

Steeler Pro Bowl safety Carnell Lake has more than adequately replaced Woodson at cornerback, and the other starting cornerback, Willie Williams, led the team with seven interceptions.

“We played all year without Rod, and have accomplished some things . . . but it’s great to see him come back,” Cowher said.

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The governor of Ohio and mayor of Cleveland urged NFL owners in Atlanta to block the Browns from moving and signaled that a “mutually satisfactory resolution” could be reached quickly.

But Brown owner Art Modell gave no sign that he would change his plans to move the team to Baltimore, saying neither he “nor his property would be held hostage by a mayor who for two years broke every promise to help the team.”

Cleveland Mayor Michael White and Ohio Gov. George Voinovich led a delegation that lobbied the owners--including Modell--for 90 minutes to keep the Browns in Cleveland.

Modell countered with complaints about the city’s stadium and talked about the NFL’s tradition in Baltimore.

Said Denver Bronco owner Pat Bowlen: “It’s amazing to me how both sides of the story can be so different. They are absolutely opposite.”

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Lamar Smith of the Seattle Seahawks was impaired by alcohol and speeding when he crashed his car in the Dec. 1, 1994 accident that paralyzed teammate Mike Frier, a prosecutor said in Seattle. But defense lawyer Allen Ressler said that, although the crash was “a tragic accident . . . this was not an accident that resulted from his drinking too much. It was not a crime.”

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Green Bay Packer assistant Gil Haskell is alert and his memory is improving, but doctors said even though his recovery has been rapid and remarkable, it’s still too early to predict his progress.

Dr. Michael Foreman, who has been directing Haskell’s care at Baylor University Medical Center, upgraded his condition to fair Wednesday and moved him out of the neurological intensive care unit into a private room. Haskell is walking, though not steadily.

Haskell’s skull was fractured in a sideline incident in the NFC championship game last Sunday.

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Buffalo Bill quarterback Jim Kelly probably will have an operation on his throwing shoulder this week. Kelly, 35, was examined in Los Angeles and may have the arthroscopic procedure as early as today. The operation is considered routine and would repair wear and tear in Kelly’s right shoulder that has accrued throughout his 10-year career. . . . The San Francisco 49ers have hired George Stewart as their special teams coach, replacing Alan Lowery. . . . Guard Will Shields of Kansas City and tackle Will Wolford of Indianapolis were placed on the AFC Pro Bowl team, replacing two injured guard Bruce Matthews of Houston (elbow) and tackle Gary Zimmerman of Denver (shoulder). . . . Miami Dolphin defensive line coach Joe Greene will be replaced by Carolina Panther assistant Cary Godette.